diff --git a/src/Makefile.package.empty b/src/Makefile.package.empty
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..1edf76c29b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/Makefile.package.empty
@@ -0,0 +1,6 @@
+# Settings for libraries used by specific LAMMPS packages
+# this file is auto-edited when those packages are included/excluded
+
+PKGINC =   
+PKGPATH =  
+PKGLIB =